Monday, October 11, 2010

There are certain people in our lives who played an important part in our lives. Sometimes they don't even know the impact that they had. For an overheated missionary in Mesa, Arizona, in 2009 -- James was that for me.

18 July 2009, James, Sis. Farnsworth and Sis. Tomoser

Although I was teaching him about the gospel of Jesus Christ, he taught me a lesson in faith. A lesson that continues today.

Last week James came up to Salt Lake City to attend General Conference. It was a privilege to witness him take in the joy, spirit and awe that comes with attending a session of conference.

2 October 2010, James and I

I became the pupil again as James updated me on his life and his actions of humble faith became clear, yet again. Since last Saturday I've been able to put my life in perspective again. It has made all the difference.

I'm grateful for those people who make a difference in our lives.

2 October 2010, Myself, James and Michelle after post-conference dinner

Thursday, July 29, 2010

This is the story of four friends, 120,021 balloons and 3,924 fellow Cougars who wanted to be in the Guiness Book of World Records for the world's largest water balloon fight.

Sarah, Michelle, Marie and Katelyn are so excited to get startedthey can't keep from jumping for joy!

The four friends are divide into their teams.Sarah is so excited in her protective eye wear on the orange and blue team.

Michelle decided it would be most effective if an assembly line was employed.She would hold the balloons and feed them to Sarah.Look how many water balloons she can hold.She looks so happy.

Sarah and Michelle also ran into a friend they only knew from afar Cosmo!The friends were excited to have their first picture with Cosmo.Now Cosmo, Sarah and Michelle are real friends now.With Cosmo on Sarah and Michelle's team, you know blue and orange were victorious.

Without cell phones, the four friends eventually reunited.They were a little more wet and had an abnormal amount of little rubber pieces all over them, but they were happy.Happy WORLD RECORD HOLDERS!

Tuesday, July 20, 2010

I've been working as a writer for the external relations department at the Marriott School for almost three months now and I LOVE IT!

As a writer it should come as no surprise that I also put on an editor hat frequently; scrupulously evaluating my own writing and that of my co-workers. A question that has plagued my mind over the last couple months is:

"Why does printing a story make it easier to find mistakes and generate ideas for improvement when it's in hand opposed to the screen?"

After writing an alumni highlight for the magazine about an alumnae working to make her city greener, I thought about what I could do to be a little more eco-friendly.

So I tried something different - I self-edited my completed first draft on my computer, instead of printing it. At first I was all aboard and felt pretty good about myself. With a half smile my thought bubble was something like this, "yeah, I just saved another sheet of paper."

But after a few "greener" self-edits, I realized the edits I got back from my peers had errors I would generally catch. Simple punctuation mistakes or repetition of words in a paragraph, to name a couple. I also recognized my complete inability to edit on my co-workers screen while helping her with a specific question. It was as if I couldn't even see the words - I just couldn't connect with her screen. So I went back to printing and things seemed to go back to normal.

Which leads me back to the question, what makes the same words and punctuation stand out more on a printed page? And why?

I'm not the only one who has asked the question. I found this e-mail discussion among professional writers about the topic. I related with many of the writers comments, but felt particularly aligned with Robert's:

"I still find the printed word of a different texture than the word on CRT (cathode ray tube). I find this neither good nor bad. While I cannot read large amounts of text on the screen, I can write them. And edit them. A different kind of fine tuning comes when I hold the words in my hand."

I believe my style can be labeled as a paper heavy hybrid. Here's the process:

I edit on screen while the story is in development, until the first draft is complete. The words hit ink for the first time and my green or blue pen comes out and I see the story with new eyes. After changes are made it's printed again and sent to begin the official editing process, with a peer edit. Penultimately a printed copy goes to one of two supervisors and after as many revisions as it takes, a (hopefully) final printed copy goes to the head of the department.

Tuesday, July 6, 2010

At an Omaha Royals game from the press box courtesy of a client while working at Paul J. Strawhecker, Inc.

As the reign of Rosenblatt stadium comes to an end this summer, Hannah Karp from the Wall Street Journal submitted a query, through HARO, for their favorite Rosenblatt memories. I couldn't resist the opportunity as an Omaha native and College World Series fan to submit my favorite memory. Although it wasn't published I enjoyed writing something outside of work and about a happy memory with my dad.

Enjoy.

Just recently my dad revealed he took me to my first College World Series game because he felt sorry for me. It was the middle of my softball season and instead of a glove on the end of my left hand, I sported a blue cast all the way up my arm.

We were late for the game, and I can still recall the aluminum “ping” that cut through the air as we made our way to Rosenblatt’s entrance. It was Game 10 of the 1998 College World Series, USC vs. Mississippi State. Our seats were even with the bag on the first baseline about fifteen rows up, just barely in the shade.

Although I can’t remember details of the game I cannot forget the feeling in the stadium. I could easily say it was the thrill of America’s game in the heart of its country. But for an eleven-year-old tomboy, it was the most majestic and breathtaking way for my dad and I to share our love for baseball.

With the final out, I squirmed my way toward the USC dugout. I leaned over with my cast dangling in perfect view, with the hopes of receiving some Trojan sympathy in the form of an autograph. To my dad’s surprise my plan worked and the third baseman, Morgan Ensberg, came my way. He was quick, but sincere in his well wishes for my speedy return to the field. Then we began the trek to the car, whilst I examined my autographed ticket stub, grinning ear-to-ear.

And that’s when it happened – I fell in love with everything about Rosenblatt stadium and the College World Series.

The excitement cannot be contained while waiting to go into a CWS game in 2007.

Tuesday, April 6, 2010

Arizona! - I had an absolute blast being back in the place I love, visiting the people I love with my Mom whom I also love.Boxes - lots of them. I'm going through all of my pre and post mission stuff for what to take to Utah, toss and store. Who knew I could have so much random stuff?Cake - I really want to make a cake today.Devonshire - the apartment complex I will be living in for Spring and Summer in Provo.Easter Pageant - Even though I served in the Mesa Arizona mission I was able to see the Mesa Easter Pageant for the first time when I visited. It was fun to see all the missionaries working at the pageant and the pageant itself was pretty great.Films - I'm catching up on the movies I missed, some good (Avatar, Blindside, Julie and Julia) some not so much (Twilight, New Moon) It's crazy I'm averaging about one a day. Any suggestions? Guacamole - I'm obsessed with making this avocado based dip. Unfortunately there is no one in my family to share this obsession with. :(Horseback riding - While in Snowflake, Bro. Turley took me out around his ranch. So much fun, I never thought I'd go horseback riding before I went swimming, but I'm not complaining.Itouch - do I wait until September and get a Macbook with free itouch? Do I just get the itouch? Do I get anything at all? idebate.Journal - perhaps to compensate for my lack of post mission journaling, I've been typing up my mission journal.K - 5 of them. I will be running in the Provo City 5K on May 1. I'm super excited and am training for a new PR. Wish me luck!Lois and Clark - guilty, very guilty of watching some of the third season again.Marriott School of Management External Relations Department - my new employer. I start in a couple weeks as a public relations writer.Nicole LeGrow or Hermana LeGrow - my best Omaha friend came home from her mission today!Omaha is and will forever be my "Homaha."Phoenix - not only a place I love but also the name of my first pair of Asics running shoes. I LOVE THEM!Qudditch - for whatever reason that is what first came to my mind when I was invited to play Bocce ball at the Lussiers in Mesa. I was mistaken. But do enjoy bocce ball a lot actually.Racquetball - while "playing" with my youngest brother we didn't keep score, but he kept track of how many times I whiffed it...12. Oh well.Sewing - my grandma who is a master of a seamstress taught me how to hem my own clothes. Very handy for a shorter person like myself.Thai Curry Chicken - I made this sweet curry for my family for the first time. It was tasty!Underutilized - this describes how I've spent my time since I've gotten home. It's tough going from really busy to nothing. But I'll be back to being employed and a student in a few weeks and embrace this last little "pause" between my mission and official post-mission life.Vacation - 15 days of March was spent on two separate trips (Utah and Arizona). Both were fantastic and explains how March went so quickly.Winner! I won in a Yo-yo contest at our Stake Activity "A 100 years in 100 minutes." What did I win? None other than a yo-yo.eXchanges - while visiting Arizona, one of my old companions' greenie had to go to the hospital. So I was able to go on "exchanges" and be my old companion's "companion" again, in my third area. It was FANTASTIC!Yogurt - I have a bowl of Dannon All-natural vanilla yogurt with fruit (strawberries or blueberries) and granola almost everyday. It's my ultimate healthy, "I feel good before, during and after I eat it" food.Zoo - Phoenix Zoo...check! It's more like an experience being a part of an environment that has some animals in it rather than seeing tons of animals.

Wednesday, March 3, 2010

I completed my full-time mission to the Arizona Mesa Mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints just over three weeks ago on 9 February 2010.

My mission has changed my life, I truly loved it. I loved learning and serving with the fantastic people of Arizona.

There's SOOOOOO much more I could say but I'll leave you with a couple of facts and quotes that capture some of the joy, humor and overall experience of being in Arizona.

"Mesa Arizona, where you don't need a mirror you just look at your companions forehead." -Me

Despite serving in Arizona I had quite a variety of weather conditions Both of my Arizona winters were in "the North" at an elevation between 5,000-6,000 feet. So I experienced snow,ice and even got a chance to go sledding as a Zone Activity! The coldest I recall in Snowflake was 12 degrees. I also got to spend my summer in Mesa where it was hot! The hottest I remember in Mesa was at 120 degrees.100 degrees of fun in Arizona! LOVE IT!

I loved my mission and will always recall it with love and happiness. I truly gained a stronger relationship with Jesus Christ and marveled as I saw the miracles and blessings poured upon all of Heavenly Father's children.